Dennis Asche - Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle

The No Gi training is as good as ever at the academy. Today’s was full of athletes preparing for upcoming fights in various events. There are always athletes coming in from all over the world to make preparations for fights and it only makes sense. Today’s professor, Marcio Cruz put an emphasis on guard passing and sweeps for the better half of this session. Building on that, he took this specific training one step further…it was not only the passing athlete’s objective to clear the legs but to keep their opponents from standing up as well. Good training and lots of different competitive athletes from featherweight to super-heavyweight.

Marcio Cruz “Pe de Pano”

Erinaldo “Pitbull” Rodrigues

(More photos coming)

Training with Gordo has without a doubt changed my Jiu-Jitsu and MMA for the better. His “old school” ways to me are along the lines of a Charles Bronson character, a man’s man. For an athlete, not the professor to hold your hand and give praise every time one pulls off a move in class…quick to remind of the position that was just lost. Never the less, he does give praise when it is deserved and those praises are remembered. He also has a good sense of humor that comes out at the right times. Rather than greet one behind a plastic smile his state of mind shows through with the seriousness in concentration display on his face. Gordo has an answer for every Jiu-Jitsu question I have asked to date and an ability to respond with an explanation that is practical in application. With the experience and technique he possesses there is much to be learned by anyone who makes time to train with Roberto “Gordo”.

Thanks goes out to Claudio Machado for consistently being there in the morning training and all those extra rounds after the classes end. Claudio’s top pressure and relentless attacks keep my defense sharp and put my guard to the test. In time I hope to add some of the qualities of his game to mine.

Here in Rio my favorite place to train outside the academy is this forest…running up Pedra da Gavea (second favorite being the beach of course). Gallons of sweat roll off as my lungs burn pulling in the thick, humid air and forcing my muscles into exhaustion. The hill running generally ends at the half way point of the mountain, know as the “Ship Rock”.

I have always enjoyed running and even more so outdoors. It allows for a form of meditation and brings one closer to the environment that is often overlooked in daily life.

After hiking back down, standing under this waterfall has got to be one of the best ways to close out the session.

Thanks to Pedrao “Arnold” my running partner for taking pictures.

This past week “Soca” came by the Gordo Jiu-Jitsu academy to train during his visit here in Rio. Since my first time training with him in 2003, I have always admired the technique and fluidity in his game…Thanks for making time “Soca”!

He is now on his way back to the East Coast of the US and his Jiu-Jitsu academy.

Check out his site: http://www.socabjj.com/

Rommel has a positive influence on my training and the training of many others here at Gordo Jiu-Jitsu.
His outlook on both Jiu-Jitsu and life in general help influence students to question the how and why of training, continually evolving and improving the art.

Here are a few photos of a session this week.

I took this picture returning home after training Saturday, while making time to appreciate the beauty of this city from the beach in Botafogo.

Saturday training at Gordo Jiu-Jitsu was good as always. The weekend training is one of the best of the week, there are people from the AM and PM classes that come together Saturday morning to train giving it more diversity.

A few random shots from Saturday.

Thanks to computer guru Jeff Anliker, the blog is up on my site!

After Monday, this week has been pouring down rain almost non-stop here in Rio. Flooded streets and crowded buses made getting around the city much more difficult these past days…Not the ideal conditions for commuting. This coming week is the last before the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championships the following weekend (one of two championship this month). There are still a few days left to prepare and I intend to make the most of them training through the weekend. One thing that has always remained the same throughout my competing is the feeling that there is more that can or should be accomplished in preparation. For me that thought creates the drive that wakes me up in the early morning to train after the late bus ride home or pushes me in that last round before leaving the mats.

“Mamazinho” and I after training. –>